Armand Calinescu

Armand Calinescu (4 June 1893-21 September 1939) was Prime Minister of Romania from 7 March to 21 September 1939, succeeding Miron Cristea and preceding Gheorghe Argesanu. He was assassinated by the Iron Guard with the assistance of Nazi Germany.

Biography
Armand Calinescu was born on 4 June 1893 in Pitesi, Romania, and he studied law and philosophy in Bucharest before studying economics and political sciences in Paris. Calinescu was a leftist, and he joined the National Peasants' Party, and he served as Undersecretary of State in 1930. During the Grivita strike of 1933, he ordered troops to fire on protesters, and he was also a firm opponent of the Iron Guard fascist group. On 7 March 1939, having been Minister of Education, Calinescu was appointed as the new Prime Minister to succeed the ill Miron Cristea, and he wanted to align with the United Kingdom during World War II. However, on 21 September 1939 he was shot dead by Iron Guard assassins in his Cadillac while returning from the Cotroceni Palace on the orders of Iron Guard leader Horia Sima, who was supported by Nazi Germany.